Business Law

The firm advises its clients in the implementation of their projects in France and represents them in court.

About Expertise

Commercial law &
litigation in France

France has its own legal and court systems, which may differ from other legal systems, while also bearing similar features with other EU countries. Companies doing business in France are therefore well-advised to understand and comply with the specific legal requirements and court procedures in order to minimize legal and financial risks.

Our firm provides you with in-depth expertise in French commercial law and offers skilled guidance in litigation at all levels – from the initial consultation to the final decision.

Our Expertise

Liability Law

Defective products
Industrial risks
Construction defects
including technical investigation ordered by court or by insurance

Commercial Law

Manufacturing and service contracts
Competition and distribution law
General terms and conditions (GTC) of sale
Terms and conditions of use
Leasing agreements / finance leasing
Commercial lease agreements

Litigation

Civil, commercial, and criminal proceedings before all French courts

Insolvency Law

Filing of claims / declaration of claim
Retention of title clause
Negotiations with the insolvency administrator/debtor; deciding whether to continue an existing contract
Debt recovery through litigation against the insurer of the insolvent debtor or, where applicable, against the debtor’s management in case of wrongful conduct

Corporate Law

incorporation of companies, subsidiaries or establishments
Managing corporate activities: regular and extraordinary shareholders’ meetings, formalities at the commercial register
Winding-up and amicable liquidation

Looted art

Besides my legal practice, I have been appointed as a liquidator of companies of art merchants, whose works of art were looted, in order to seek and claim their restitution.

Labour law for French subsidiary

... assistance of the managing sole shareholder (Bavaria) of a subsidiary in France : negotiation for the termination of a contract / disciplinary measures / drafting of new contracts for managers

Cyber-security fraud / court procedure for payment

... of a claim for damages against a debtor after payment default following a cybersecurity fraud. Contract for the delivery of an industrial facility (EUR 0.5M).

Sofware developement contract / litigation

... before the international chamber of the Paris commercial court;
litigation in respect of payment of invoices and intellectual property over softwares, while responding to counterclaims; successful negotiation of a settlement.

Collection of a portfolio of claims

… for mediumsized companies from Germany (portfolio of claims ranging from 5,000 to 130,000€) : forced implementation, payment notice, court procedure, insolvency procedures (Claim notification, application for restitution of wares based on title clause).

Enforcement of a Swiss Judgment

… in France (CHF 97k), including the seizure of bank accounts and shareholdings, as well as asset investigations.

Corporate litigation / negotiation

... of an amicable solution between two shareholders in a subsidiary in France (dispute over the subsidiary's management and invoicing of customers, parachute bonus for the subsidiary's chairman, etc.) (1,2M €)

Liability of the insurer of an insolvent supplier

… pre-litigation advice to an energy services provider (city-owned), due to defects in the machine delivered by the said supplier (3,2M CHF)

Seeking implementation of a bank guarantee

... through for damages against banks that refused to execute a bank guarantee for a sale between EU countries (stand-by credit-letter) (0,43M €)

Claim for Damages

… for personal injury, including an application for the appointment of a court-appointed expert.

Presentations and pitches

We regularly share our knowledge through presentations at seminars and work closely with colleagues in cross-border cases to prepare and conduct pitches. Combining up-to-date legal expertise with practical experience enables to deliver a clear and convincing communication on complex legal topics – both at professional events and in meetings.

Examples of our activities:

  • Lecture at the DACH Lawyers’ Association, Seminar in March 2025, Topic: ESG Corporate Governance with regard to the Implementation of the CSRD-EU Directive
  • Pitch preparation in cooperation with specialist lawyers and a Swiss commercial law firm to advise a Zurich-based bank

Pierre-Yves Samson,
LL.M. (Berlin)

Pierre-Yves Samson has been admitted to the Paris Bar as a French lawyer (avocat à la cour) after taking the oath before the Court of Appeal of Paris on January 10th 2008.

His main areas of practice are business law and litigation in civil and commercial matters.

He brings his many years of experience and undiminished enthusiasm for his profession to serve his clients, particularly small and medium-sized companies from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Avocat à la Cour (Paris), E.I.

Email : py@samson.legal

Address : c/o Lechler - Bernardy - Millot, avocats à la cour, 11 rue Edouard Detaille, F-75017 Paris - France

“My work is based on clear principles.”

Areas of Practice:

Commercial Law, Distribution Law, Litigation (including debt collection, bank guarantees, industrial damages), Insolvency Law, International Sale of Goods convention, Enforcement of Court Judgments, and White-Collar Criminal Law.
The firm offers a global service, especially for cross-border matters, and collaborates with chartered accountants as well as specialized lawyers in tax law and intellectual property/IT law, all of whom have extensive experience in advising small and medium-sized enterprises.

Languages:

English, French, German

Professional and Business Associations:

As a member of various international business lawyer associations, he has built a network of legal practicioners abroad over the years, maintaining close personal contacts.

Lawyers' association:

  • IBA - International Bar Association
  • International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA)
  • DACH – Association of German-Speaking Lawyers
  • French-German lawyers association ("deutsch-französische Juristenvereinigung e.V.")
  • Think Tank ILEX (International Litigation Exchange)
  • association "Paris Place de Droit"

Businesses network:

  • WeCon Netzwerk

Professional Background:

  • Postgraduate in EU Competition Law, King’s College London (2010)
  • Sworn in before the Paris Court of Appeal on January 10, 2008
  • Bar legal training in Rennes, Berlin, and Paris (2006–2007)
  • LL.M. in German and European Law, Humboldt University of Berlin (2005), with honours
  • Master’s in European Union Law (Procedural Law), University of Luxembourg (2003), with honours
  • Master’s in European Union Law, University of Rennes (Erasmus – Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) (2002), with honours
  • Master’s in Public Law, University of Rennes (2001)
  • Licence (Bachelor’s) in Civil Law & Public Law, University of South Britanny (2000), with honours

International

For many years, the firm has built contacts with lawyers at other business law firms, primarily within the European Union. These are colleagues with whom personal connections have been established.

Besides all these contacts with lawyers abroad, Mr. Samson has joined a network of businesses in Germany in 2022.

He is hence on business travels several times a year to further expand these networks.

Fees & expenses

1- In France, attorney fees and expenses are invoiced according to an agreement with the client. There is no statutory or table-based fee, for instance based on the amount in dispute.

Depending on the case, the fees can be billed in the following ways:

  • Based on time spent, at an agreed hourly rate, or
  • As a flat fee covering all services provided, which may be increased under certain conditions.
  • Additionally, a so-called “success fee” may be agreed upon. This fee is a percentage of the gains obtained through your attorney’s work.

When determining the fee, the following criteria are taken into account:

  • The complexity of the matter,
  • The nature of the tasks to be performed,
  • The time required to handle the case.

Costs incurred by the firm in performing their services are billed together with the fee. These costs mainly include travel expenses and the fees or charges of other service providers (local lawyer, bailiffs, commercial register, etc.). They are passed on to the client at cost price, with supporting documentation attached.

The firm reserves the right to request an advance on fees and costs.

2- In proceedings before French courts, each party bears its own legal fees, even if it prevails. Legal fees in France are not considered reimbursable fees or procedural costs.

At the request of the parties, the courts often grant a “costs indemnity” to the winning party, to be paid by the losing party/ies. However, the amount seldom covers the costs actually incurred by the party in respect of legal fees.

This principle — where each party bears its own attorney fees — can be mitigated in debt collection matters between business entities thanks to the European Union law.

Legal fees and costs may be covered by legal expenses insurance. It is essential to verify and confirm coverage under such insurance before initiating any proceedings (whether judicial or otherwise). If you have subscribed a legal expenses policy, you remain free to work with an attorney of your choice; the insurer cannot impose a practicioner on you.

3- In the event of a dispute over the amount of fees, the President of the Paris Bar Association is competent to render an initial decision. An appeal may be filed against that decision, in which case the determination of the fees will fall under the jurisdiction of the Paris Court of Appeal.

Insurance:
The firm has professional liability insurance providing coverage of up to €4 million per claim. If the client believes that this amount is insufficient, it is his responsibility to inform the firm, which may then arrange additional insurance. It is hereby agreed that that by entrusting a mandate to the firm the client waives any claim for damages exceeding the insurance coverage limit.

Contact

Do you have any questions or need legal assistance? Please feel free to contact me. I am available for personal consultations – competent and reliable.